The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, ASURI, has asked the management of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, to allow academic staff and researchers in the Institute to enlist in the union.
The union made the demand in a letter to the Director General/ Chief Executive Officer of NILDS, dated May 31, 2024. The letter was also forwarded to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The letter, signed by Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku, ASURI Secretary General, is titled, ‘Fervent Appeal To Give The Academic Staff Union Of Research Institutions (ASURI) A Free Hand To Mobilize Academic Staff/Researchers At National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) To Enlist Into The Union’.
The letter noted that the union, ASURI, represents the interests of research fellows in federal research and development institutions, inter-university centres, colleges and allied agencies, including the National Examinations Council, NECO, National Educational and Research and Development Council, NERDC, the National Library of Nigeria, NLN, Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolutions, IPCR, National Institute for International Affairs, NIIA, and the National Mathematical Centre, NMC, among several other research institutions.
Noting that, currently, academic staff and researchers at NILDS were not allowed to join unions, ASURI urged the Institute’s Director General, Prof Abubakar Olarenwaju Suleiman, to allow the workers express their right to freedom of association, as provided by the Nigerian Constitution.
“The Academic Staff Union Of Research Institutions (ASURI) hereby appeals for your cooperation for us to conduct virtual enlightenment and mobilization to enlist researchers and other academic staff at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) into the union.
“ASURI is the only union registered to organize academic staff in all Research and Development Institutions (RDIs) and Allied Agencies in Nigeria. As a responsible union that partners with the Federal Government and managements in fostering sectoral development, we assure you and your management team of a cordial and progressive relationship that will engender a better NILDS even as we acknowledge your progressive strides in the Institute.
“ASURI, as a primary stakeholder union in the Research and Development Institutes and Allied Agencies sector, is committed to the sustainable development of the sector, cutting across the education, science/technology, agriculture and other vital ministries,” the letter stated.
ASURI further observed that it was regrettable that academic staff and researchers at NILDS had not been allowed to join their colleagues from sister institutions and agencies in the union.
The union noted that non-membership of trade unions violates the rights of NILDS researchers and academic staff.
“We have observed that since the establishment of NILDS, the academic staff of the Institute who, ipso facto, are researchers, have not had the opportunity of joining ASURI, which is the only duly registered union with jurisdictional scope to unionize and cater for researchers in their cadre.
“Membership of trade unions is enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states in Section 40 that: ‘Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.’
“The 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights also regards membership of trade unions as a human rights matter as Article 23 (4) states that: ‘Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.’
“That fact of researchers at NILDS not belonging to ASURI means that they will not enjoy most of the benefits accruing to researchers/academic staff in Nigeria. We are convinced that not belonging to this union for researchers in such a strategic national research and development agency is an aberration.”
Stressing that academic staff and researchers at NILDS were disadvantaged due to their inability to join the union, the letter added, “ASURI succeeded in getting the special CONRAISS salary scale for RDIs and allied agencies and single-handedly fought for the increase in the retirement age of Research Fellows from 60 years to 65 years.
“The union has upped the scale and is on the verge of getting the Federal Government’s nod for increase in retirement age of Research Directors/Research Professors from 65 to 70 years as it obtains in the universities. Without any doubt, non -members of ASURI would find it difficult to benefit from these. ASURI is at the verge of getting the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC) Bill passed by the 10th National Assembly. The Bill will institutionalize the funding and coordination of research in Nigeria.
“Without ASURI at NILDS, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for researchers in the Institute to benefit from research and training fund from NRIC after it is established. Our prayer, therefore, is that researchers at NILDS be granted their constitutional and fundamental human right of the freedom to associate and to belong to a trade union and it will be highly appreciated if our humble request is granted.”
Newspot gathered that non-authorization to join trade unions had been the subject of unresolved disagreement between NILDS staff and the management of the Institute for several years.
A letter seen by Newspot, dated September 25, 2023, sought the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Productivity over the issue.
The letter, signed by the lawyer of the NILDS staff, Ademola Adenipekun, SAN, of Afe Babalola & Co, informed the minister that the director general of the Institute had, since his appointment in 2019, prevented the staff from forming or belonging to a trade union.
“We were informed that one Dr Charles Alfred, a former staff of the Institute, had his employment terminated by the Director General. The reason for the termination was because he tried to introduce a trade union (Parliamentary Staff Union of Nigeria – PASAN) into the said Institute. This attitude has created a hostile working environment wherein our clients are afraid and unable to express their concerns for fear of reprisals against them by the said Director General,” the letter stated.
Stressing that the Nigerian Constitution guaranteed freedom of association, including membership of trade unions, the letter urged the minister to, as a matter of urgency, redress the issue, which the lawyer described as a “flagrant” violation of constitutional provisions.
Efforts to get comments from the Director General of NILDS, Prof Abubakar Olarenwaju Suleiman, were not successful as at the time of filing this report. Also, the Institute’s Acting Director of Administration and Human Resources, Alhaji Dukku, could not be reached for comments.
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